Phillip Martin's Fine Art

This portrait almost never happened.

I really didn't know much about the Day of the Dead. It’s been going on for thousands of years. Origins of the celebration started with the Aztec and other ancient people of Mexico who considered death just a part of the cycle of life. However, the dead in these societies were not considered dead and gone. They were still a part of the community and kept alive in memory and spirit. And, it gets a little more special (or eerie, depending on how you look at it).

On the Day of the Dead, these not so long lost family members come back to Earth, temporarily. If you happen to be in Mexico in early November, you can expect a holiday that is a combination of pre-Hispanic religious rights, Christian feasts imported by the Spanish and now (sad to say) Halloween is also tossed into the mix. But, UNESCO has added the celebration to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

I asked a few Mexican friends about their families and the Day of the Dead. Was it more of a fiesta with friends or a special occasion with family? Family. And, even though I asked about food and traditions, showing so much interest in their culture, there was no invitation for a gringo to join family members at any celebration or local cemetery.

Now, if I were to get the kind of photo I really wanted, I could have gone to a cemetery without an invitation. But, I am not the kind of person to invite myself to a private family celebration with complete strangers. It just would not happen.

Besides, after a day of painting a mural under the Mexican sun, I was tired and ready to just stay home. However, I knew that it was the only time I'd ever been in Mexico for the Day of the Dead. I had to explore. And, in Playa del Carmen, if you aren't going to a cemetery, you can always explore Fifth Avenue.

First of all, there was pan del muerto (bread of the dead) sprinkled with sugar just like a donut, one of my favorite forms of sugar. Decorated sugar skulls in various sizes were an art tradition imported by 17^th century Italian missionaries. God is good and sweet as well. Several shops had decorated alters. The “ofrenda”s were not meant for worship. They were meant to welcome the spirits back. And, thankfully, there were a few people who painted themselves up to look like skeletons and fully celebrate the occasion. And, since I knew to stroll Fifth Avenue, I found and photographed this beautiful "dead" senorita.

Continue on to Americas Image 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 or back to the Portraits Home Page.